Louver construction



Jan. 1, 1952 A. B. MADSON 2,530,937

LOUVRE CONSTRUCTION Filed June 20. 1947 IN V EN TOR.

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Patented Jan. l, 1952..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,580,937 LoUvER CONSTRUCTION Andrew B. Madson, Los Angelcs, Calif.

Application June 20, 1947, Serial No. 755,952

This invention relates to louvres, such as are often used to shield or screen an opening through L which it is desired to prevent direct vision while permitting restricted passage of light and air;

provide an improved method of fabricating alouvre.

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration-of several embodiments of the invention. For this purpose there are shown a number of forms, in, the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. These forms will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not tobe,

taken in a limiting sense since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a shutter or the like, comprising a louvre embodying the features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation on an. enlarged scale, illustrating a step in fabricating the louvre of Figure 1; v Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section, taken substantially as indicated byline 33 of Fig. 2, on a further enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a cross section taken substantially as indicated by line 4-4 of Figure 2; v

Figure 5 is a cross section corresponding to Figure 4, but showing the completed louvre;

Figure 6 is an elevation showing an alternative method of fabricating a louvre; and i L Figure '7 is a detail section, taken substantially as indicated by line l! of Figure 6.

As is well understood, a louvre commonly bomprises a plurality of spaced horizontally extending vertically inclined slats or louvre boards-sup ported by engagement respectively of their opposite ends in recesses provided in a pair of; vertically extending side members. Such side-mem bers for example, may be the stiles of a shutter, or of a door or window frame, in which casefthe louvre becomes an integral part of the door, shut; ter or the like; or the side members may bethe vertical elements of a lcuvreframe, adaptedflfor mountingthe louvre as a unit in a wall opening or in an opening provided in a door or. window 9 Claims. (01. -63) sash. The present invention contemplates the provision of a novel arrangement of such side members whereby the installation of the slats or louvre boards is greatly facilitated.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a louvre as forming an integral part, for example, of a shutter structure wherein the frame, generally indicated by the numeral I, serves to support the slats or louvreboards 2. The frame I comprising the stiles or side members 3 and 4', and the rails or horizontal members 5 and 6, could equally well be that of a .door or window sash or merely a supporting frame. 1

As shown in Figures 3 and 5,'each of the stiles 3 -and 4 respectively'has a-plurality-of inclined spaced parallel recesses! and 8 cooperating to mount the louvre boards or slats 2.- To facilitate the placing of the slats 2 in their respective recesses I and 8, corresponding portions of the facing edges of the stiles 3 and 4 have cut out portions or rabbets 3-0 and 4-.-c extending the full length thereof. As clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4, the depth of these rabbets 3-0 and 4-c is less than that of the intersected recesses I and 8. Furthermore, the rabbets extend only for part of the length of the recesses. I

The arrangement is such that by maintaining the stiles or side members 3 and 4 in parallel relationship with the recesses I and 8 opposite each-other, and the members so spaced that the slats 2 can pass freely between the rabbets or cut-outportions 3-c'and 4-0, the slats may be easil inserted in their respective pairs of recesses I and 8. Then by reducing the spacing between the members 3 and 4 the slats will be confined in these recesses.

Where the various frame members as the-stiles orside members 3 and 4 and the rails or top and bottom members 5 and 6 are of suitable size as in the form of Figs. 1 to 5, the members may be joined in such manner that the side members are adapted to be maintained in spaced parallel relation without the need of any supplemental structure. For example the rails 5 and 6 may be provided with tenons as I!) and II adapted to engage respectively the mortices I2 and I3 formed in the side members 3 and 4.

From an inspection of Figs. 2, 3 and 4 it' will be apparent that one of the side members such as 3, may be spaced a sufficient distance from its final position to accommodate the slats 2 between the rabbets 3-0 and 4-0. Thus the slats 2 may be inserted readily into those parts of'th'e recesses I- and 8 which are of full depth (see particularly Figure 4),, the slats .being held properly placed thereby. After all of the slats 2 have inserted, the member 3 is moved to its.

final position, causing the slats 2 to enter additionally those parts of the recesses I and 8 of reduced depth (see Figure 5). This secures the slats 2 in the frame I, and the side member 3 is appropriately fixed to the rails 5 and 6.

It may be desirable to provide a lighter frame for mounting the louvre boards. Such, a frame is shown partially completed in Fig. 61 and comprises side members l5 and I6 and end members 17. Since these members are quite thin, they are to be connected by mitered joints at the corners of the frame. The side members l5 and 16 are provided as before with recesses as [8 (Fig. 7) for mounting the louvre boards'2, these recesses being intersected by a rabbet 19 to per-' mit insertion of the louvre boards 2.

To maintain the frame members appropriately positioned for insertion of the boards 2, a jig 20 may be provided defining a rectangular space for accommodating the frame; As clearly shown in Fig. 6', the width of the jig 20 is such that the side members 15 and 16 are so spaced as to accommodate the slats 2 between the rabbets l8 and permit the slats to be placed in the recesses l8;

After placement of the slats, the side member i5 is secured in its final position on the end members I], the slats 2 being retained in the recesses 18, as before.

I claim: r I

1. In a louvre construction: 'means forminga pair of spaced par'allcl members having respectivelya plurality of opposed recesses; and louvre boards mounted respectively in pairs of opposed recesses, each of said members having a cut-out portion extending along an edge thereof and intersecting'the recesses therein at points inter- 4 tenon on each end member, and mortices in said side member cooperating respectively therewith.

5. In a louvre construction: a pair of side members and a pair of end members adapted to form a rectangular frame, there being opposed louvre board accommodating recesses in said side members; there being a rabbet along an edge of each member, said edges being in facing relation; and means including a pair-of spaced parallel surfaces adapted to cooperate with said side members to maintain said members in substantial parallelism while so spaced as to permit the louvre boards to pass between said rabbets into said recesses.

6. In a louvre construction: a pair of side members and a pair of end members adapted to form a rectangular frame, there being opposed louvre board accommodating recesses in said side members; there being a rabbet along an edge of each member, said edges being in facing relation; and means forming a supporting-framework having pairs of opposed surfaces inclosing a rectangular space, the surfaces of one of said pairs positioningsaid end members, the surfaces of the other pair spacing said side members to permit the louvre boards to pass between said rabbets.

'7. The method of constructing a louvre which comprises: rabbeting an edge of each side member of a louvre frame to reduce the depth of the louvre board receiving recesses therein for a portion of the length of said recesses; spacing said inediatetheir depth, said'members being positioned'with the cut out portions in facing relation, thespace between the cut-out portions being less'thanthe length of the louvre boards.

2. In a'louvre construction: a member adapted to form" an element of a supporting frame for "3. In a louvre construction: a frame comprising a "pair of spaced parallel side members and .a pair'of end members, said side members having opposed louvre board accommodating re- 'c'essesrthere being a rabbet along an edge of each 'side'member reducing the depth .of a part of each recess therein, said rabbets being in facing relation, andmeans joining at least one side member to said end members in'a manner to permil: initial spacing of said side members to acthereafter at reduced spacing to confine said boards in -'s'aid"rec'esses, said means comprising 'a pommodate the louvre'boards between said rabmembers to accommodate the louvre boards between said rabbets; placing said boards in their respective recesses; and reducing the spacing to confine said boards in said recesses. 8. The method of constructing a louvre. which comprises: forming a rabbet along an edge of each side member of a louvre frame to intersect the louvre board receiving recesses in said memher at a point intermediate their depth, said edges being in facing. relation; maintaining-said members in parallel relation and so spaced as to permit passage of louvre boards between said rabbets into the opposing recesses; placing said boards in said recesses; causing relative movement between said members to reduce the space and confine the boards in their respective recesses; and securing said members in reduced spaced relation. l

9. In a louvre construction: a pair of spaced parallel members having respectively opposed louvre board accommodating recesses; and louvre boards mounted respectively in pairs of opposed recesses, each of said members having a pair of spaced parallel sides as well as an edge, said edges being so formed as to intersect the sides of the respective members in offset relation, forming in each recess, portions of different depths, said edges being in facing relation, with recess portions of corresponding depth opposed, the distance between said edges adjacent the 'recessed portions of reduced depth being less than the length of said louvre boards.

' Y ANDREW B. MADSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

